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Aug. 18, 2009A preseason winner--Dutch deliver toys to hospital
PELLA—According to several patients at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, Central College’s football players were winners before this year’s preseason practices had even begun.
Six Central players distributed more than $900 worth of toys to the patients Aug. 12. The funds were raised as part of a team project that included collecting pledges for a lift-a-thon staged as part of the players’ strength workouts earlier in the year.
It’s a player-initiated activity. Greg Altmaier, an all-America linebacker for the Dutch in 2007, came up with the idea and first led the project three years ago. The team has never sought publicity for its work.
“It’s something the players wanted to do,” McMartin said. “It’s about serving others, it’s not about recognition. The entire team did it together. We benefit from it more than (the patients) ever will.”
McMartin took the money the players raised and headed to the toy store to purchase the children’s gifts, getting expert advice from his young daughters, Caroline and Emily. The players then handed out the presents at the hospital, going room to room. The visits had a profound impact on the players.
“A lot of us don’t realize how lucky we are to play football or to do whatever we want to do,” said senior offensive lineman Andy Kneib (Overland Park, Kan./Olathe East). “It was a unique opportunity to help these kids and interact with them. Most of them were pretty excited, although some were a little shy.
“I’ve never done anything like this before but I really enjoyed it.”
“It’s a fun thing to do,” McMartin said. “It’s neat to watch how the players interact with the kids.”
Joining Kneib and McMartin on the trip were defensive back Corben Schueler (senior, Granger, Woodward-Granger HS), S-back Korey Van Wyk (senior, Lynnville, Pella Christian HS), offensive linemen Joey Shoemaker (junior, Des Moines, Lincoln HS), Andy Kneib (senior, Overland Park, Kan., Olathe East HS) and Lee Schroeder (junior, Malcom, Montezuma) anddefensive lineman Jon McWilliams (senior, Homestead, Williamsburg HS) .